While it is still uncertain whether FEMA will provide disaster assistance to Bridgeville and its residents, the people affected by June 20 flood should document their losses as thoroughly as possible.
Take photos of everything. Save receipts for anything that you buy. Hang on to older reciepts showing the value of items lost.
Whether FEMA intervenes depends largely on whether the flood-related damages throughout Pennsylvania on June 20 add up to more than approximately $18.5 million, not including losses that are covered by insurance.
FEMA’s threshold figure is based on whether a disaster’s impact cost more than $1.46 per resident of the state. Pennsylvania’s population was 12.7 million during the last census.
Right now, it looks like the state-wide losses from last week could surpass $18.5 million and spur FEMA to open its checkbook. But nothing is guaranteed, nor is it certain what types of assistance FEMA would offer or how long it would take.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency has zero dollars to provide for assistance, so this major government assistance all hinges on FEMA.